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Castles give us an invaluable window into the medieval world. In this compelling course, you'll track British castle-building from the Norman invasion to the English civil wars and beyond.

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Episodes

1. Castles for Defense and Château Gaillard

35m

Begin with a look at how historians and archaeologists define castles and at the misleading narrative that has often surrounded their history. At Château Gaillard in France, built by King Richard Lionheart of England, study the many defensive features of the edifice, such as curtain walls, towers, crenellations, baileys, and gates, and consider the deterrent roles of castle architecture.

2. Castles for Residence and Enjoyment

32m

Look behind the walls and parapets to the areas of castles reserved for residential life, from the central hall and its communal uses to the kitchens and cellars; the main tower, home to the castle lord and family; and residential areas for people of lesser rank and servants. Take account of the often-elaborate furnishings of castles, in their role as homes to many people serving many functions.

3. Castles for Administration and Slot Loevestein

31m

Explore the vital ways in which castles served administrative roles. Learn about their core function as landed estates within the medieval agricultural economy, and in broader areas such as local governance; tax collection; and as judicial courts, prisons, and religious centers. Visit Slot Loevestein in the Netherlands and trace the many administrative roles it played across its history.

4. Hen Domen and Earth-and-Timber Castles

31m

Investigate the history and lore of earth-and-timber castles, which flourished alongside the better-preserved masonry castles. Encounter the two subtypes, motte and bailey and ringwork castles, and track their architectural features, organization, and how life was lived within them. Travel the site of Hen Domen in Wales, visualize its many buildings, and relive its colorful and dramatic history.

5. Spanish Castillos, Alcázares, and Alcazabas

33m

Discover the spectrum of castle types that proliferated on the medieval Iberian peninsula. Trace the history of the region, and the mix of Muslim and Christian kingdoms that produced the alcazaba (fortress/citadel), alcázar (castle or palace) and castillo (Christian-built castle). Visit impressive examples such as the Alcazaba of Almeria, the walled city of Avila, and the Alcázar of Seville.

6. Norman Donjons and the Tower of London

28m

Enter the world of the Normans, great castle builders of Britain and beyond. Learn how the Normans took stone castles to new heights, constructing numerous urban fortifications focused on a central tower or donjon. In the examples of the Tower of London and Colchester Castle, study the iconic features of Norman castle architecture, edifices designed to be imposing symbols of authority.

7. Women in Castles and Castle Roche

31m

Though their male inhabitants draw much focus, women were integrally involved in life within castles. Learn about women in the medieval workforce, and their many roles on manorial estates. Take account of women as landowners and castle holders-women who owned, ruled over, and defended castles militarily. Look in depth at the example of Castle Roche in Ireland, built by Lady Roesia de Verdun.

8. Crusader Castles and Crac Des Chevaliers

31m

Travel to the dramatic era of the Crusades, and the swath of castle-building that took place in the crusader kingdoms of the Mediterranean. Study the roles of these castles in crusading, many under the rule of military orders such as the Hospitallers. At the stunning Crac des Chevaliers in Syria, tour the site and note the innovative defensive features that influenced castle-building in Europe.

9. Frederick II and Castel Del Monte

31m

Envision the world of the remarkable Frederick II, 11th-century Holy Roman Emperor and massive landholder in Italy and Germany. Trace the events of his action-filled life, and the many castles he held and influenced. Take a detailed look at his masterpiece, Castel del Monte, built as a royal pleasure palace to indulge his passion for hunting, and study its unusual octagonal, geometric design.

10. Monastic Castles of the Baltic and Cēsis

32m

Here, follow the Christian Crusades of the Baltic, which saw many crusader castles built by military-monastic orders such as the Brothers of the Sword. See how these wars of conquest, conversion, and colonization transformed the region, and visit the much-excavated Cēsis Castle. Note what archaeologists have learned about the castle, its inhabitants, and its history as a major center of power.

Extended Details

SeriesGreat Castles of Europe

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great CoursesDirector

The Great CoursesProducer

Victoria McAlisterActor

Great Castles of Europe

About

Related Subjects

Episodes

Extended Details

Artists